Table



G. D. BAKER.

v TABLE. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 16| 1920. r

Pate11ted Feb. 22, 1921.

v le

25 that when disconnected, no sign of the elec- GWYNETH'DUNSTEE BAKER, or BRooKLINE, MASSACHUSETTS.

TABLE.

Specication of Letters Patent Patented Een.' 22, 1921..

Application filed August 16, 1920. Serial No. 403,740.

T o all l't0/1.0m t may concern:

Be it known that I, GWYNETH AnEn, a citizenof the United States, residing at Brookline, in the county of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tables, of which the following is a specification. f 1

My invention relates to improvements in tables, and particularly to means whereby electrical connections for heating devices may be invisibl introducedy from the under side of the tab e to the up er surface and when not in use may be ropped beneath the table, but in position to be immediately reached when wanted. f

My invention also yrelates to an attachcheaply applied to existing tables, for holding the necessary wires and connecting members beneath Athe table, but in such a manner that the connection can bemade to anelectrical heating unit upon the upper surface of the table, instantly, and the heating unit may be instantlyy disconnected, so

trical connection willA be visible.

- In the drawings, Figure l is a cross-section of a table, showing my improvement applied thereto. Fi 2 is a plan view, on anenlarged scale, o the upper part of the device; Fig. 3 is a cross-section on the line of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on the line 4--4 of Fig. 3.

The object of the invention is to provide tables and the like with a simple, unobtrusive and efficient means lto connect objects upon the table, such as welectric lamps and heater units, with a source of electrical energy and to this end an aperture is formed in the table, usually at the center, and 1n this aperture is mounted my device, which may be of wood or metal, and may be colored to match the table of which it is to form a part.

In F ig. l, I have shown a table A of ordinary design in which is mounted one of my devices, which is shown in detail and on an enlarged'scale in Figs. 2, 3 and4.. In the preferred form shown in the drawings, the main frame or support lris cruciform, the arms being slightly longer than the diameter of the aperture in the table, into whichV the device is fitted, four recesses being formed about the edge of theaperture into DUN STER which the ends la of the arm are received, so that the upper surface of the cruciform top of the device is flush with the upper surface of the table. Below the member l is a basket, made up of arms 2 connected at their lower ends by ,a split ring 3 one section 3 of which is hinged or so shaped that it will open to permit passage of the wire 4e and the plug 4 of ,the electric connection, the aperture of the ring 3 being designedly too small in diameter to Vpass the plug 4.

Between the arms of the cruciform member il are fitted flaps lb which are hinged to the adjacent are of member l, so that they can move in either direction, a centering spring vlc being mounted upon the hinge pintle which holds the iaps l normally in a horizontal position flush with the surface of the table A. Between the abutting edges of flaps 1.1 a space 1d is formed, of size sufficient to receive the ordinary wire ofan electrical connection.

The operation is as follows: The device having been fitted to the table with which it ris to be used, the plugs and wire of the electrical connections are introduced into the basket through the section 3 of ring 3. More than one wire and plug may obviously be so introduced, if more than one electrical connection is desired. When it is desired to make an electrical connection, the hand of the operator is passed into the basket from above, between flaps 1b of member 1, and a plug 4 is drawn upward and connected with the desired object, such as a lamp or heater, the flaps 1b closing below the plug and the wire La resting in space 1d between the abutting edges of the flaps lb. When the use is no longer desired, the vplug is disconnected and dropped, and will immediately disappear through `the flaps, into the basket below. The cross pieces of the member 1 are suflicient to support any object which may be placed thereon, as well as to support the 4basket below. The upper member l may be permanently or detachably connected with the arms 2 of the basket, and I do not intend to limit myself to the precise form of construction shown and described.

As will be obvious, the member l'may be removed from the table when not in use.

of the table may be preserved and When replaced the cut will hardly be discernible.

I claim:

l. A table, provided with an aperture in its plane surface; a plate designed to lit and fill said aperture and having notches at or near its peripheral edges to pass and retain the plug and Wire of an electrical connection; a receptacle secured beneath the aperture to receive and retain the electrical plugs when dropped through the plate, all organized substantialljyv as and for the purpose described.

2. A table, provided with an aperture in its plane surface; a removable plate designed to fit and till said aperture and made up of a cruciform member, each arm of which carries a flap hinged thereto, to swing in either direction; and normally supported in and returned to a horizont-al plane by a spring, the flap having a notch in its edge to pass the Wire of an electrical connection; a receptacle secured beneath the aperture, to receive and retain the electrical plugs when dropped through the plate, all organized substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. A table, provided with an aperture in it plane surface; a plate designed to fit and fill said aperture and having notches at cr near its peripheral edges to pass and retain the plug and Wire of an electrical connection; a receptacle secured beneath the aperture, made up of split ring and a set of inwardly curved arms, connected at ltheir upper ends 'to the table and at their lower ends to the split rino, all organized substantially as and for the purpose described.

Signed at Boston, Massachusetts, this sixth day of August, 1920.

GVYNETH DUN STER BAKER. 

